Faith at Home: Planning Ahead for October

My goodness, it feels like September is passing quickly. This month has been filled with the start of school sports for our daughter, work travel for me, and a youth group trip for our son. I’m hoping for a slower October.

At Plainsong Farm we’re doing our first-ever planting of heirloom wheat this weekend. We’re working with the Rev. Elizabeth DeRuff of Honoré Farm and Mill in California. Her ministry brings together field and altar and we’re excited to be hosting her. Next year, when the harvest is ripe, we hope to have homegrown communion bread at area churches and new programs that help children and youth understand that God is the source of all good food. Please pray for us!

Liturgical Time in October

As we look ahead to October, the long green season continues. There are a few saints days that stand out, and of course at the end of the month, All Hallow’s Eve ushers in All Saints’ Day on November 1st.

Although the feast of St. Francis isn’t a major feast for the Episcopal Church’s official calendar, this well-beloved saint certainly will be commemorated in many places. Heather Sleightholm’s recent post on the fall feast days has some ideas to remember him at home.

Here are some ways to mark the church’s major feasts with your family:

To honor St. Luke the Evangelist on Wednesday, October 18th

This gospelwriter is notable for including the stories of women in his telling of the life of Christ. He is identified as the “beloved physician” that is mentioned in Colossians. A donation to support women’s health on this day would be appropriate.

St. Luke is the patron of butchers, so if you eat meat this would be an excellent day to do so. Maria Nolletti Ross also suggests an orange ricotta cookie that shines like the sun to honor the light of Christ that comes through Luke. (If cookies are not your preference, just oranges do well also!)

To honor St. James of Jerusalem on Monday, October 23

James, the brother of Christ, inspired Heather Sleightholm last year to create a sibling-made meal of lentil soup. She writes,

While we dashed a trail of olive oil onto the bottom of our soup pot and threw in handfuls of veggies and herbs to simmer and caramelize, the kids and I had a causal conversation about St. James, and how it may have felt to have ‘The Son of God’ as a brother (do you think they got into arguments? Do you think he shared his toys? Was he always good or sometimes naughty? Do you think he was a good brother to have?)

To honor St. Simon and St. Jude on Saturday, October 28th

Reflecting on this feast day a year ago, Marcus Halley wrote,

The very presence of Simon and Jude was enough to silence the voices of evil in their time who wanted war and devastation. I wonder if this is not our vocation today even as we face down contemporary voices seeking to do the same.

The website Catholic Culture says this feast is the day that Christians traditionally would begin their preparations for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day by gathering the ingredients for soul cakes. I wasn’t familiar with this tradition, but the internet is an amazing resource. Disney’s Babble website has a further explanation and a recipe. If you feel like making soul cakes toward the end of the month, here’s how!

This month and next on Grow Christians

Last month I wrote about longing for sabbath time in the midst of the fall rush. I’m happy to say that a few writers (including a couple new ones!) have provided posts about the ways they experience rest–and don’t–in this season of active-parenting life. During the second full week of October, we’ll share their posts with a week-long feature on rest and sabbath here on the blog. I know I need to spend more time pondering these things; I have a feeling I’m not the only one.

As we look forward into November, I know our church will be inviting us to consider our financial support for the coming year. How does your family ponder giving to your church? Are you a tither? How did your parents teach you about giving? We invite you to write for us; more information is here.